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    980M GTX Nvidia Card on M15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Paul Becker, Jun 3, 2017.

  1. Paul Becker

    Paul Becker Newbie

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    Hello!

    Sorry to bother y'all, but long ago, I got my computer working on a 980m graphics card with some help from the guy I bought it from. And while it's played since September with no issue, I'd never been able to update the driver, due to the fact that supposedly, he had to modify the driver to work with my computer or something?

    Now, I'm not too bright, but I'd like to at least learn HOW to do this, as I want to get the latest driver update, or something close, so that I can get my computer going a bit faster again, as it's starting to show with some games that I'd not updated it SINCE September. If someone can help me, please let me know! All I know is I gotta update an... .inf file or something? With the proper ID info? I'm not too sure, I'm just remembering a bit of what the guy said. I also remember having to have updated my BIOS, so that's been done. All the same, please let me know if someone can help me, as I'd REALLY like to get my stuff going!

    And as a note: While the short term is to get this update, I do want to learn HOW to make the drivers work on my computer, so my long-term goal from this is to learn HOW to update these drivers, if someone's willing to take the time to show me how.
     
    Paul Becker, Jun 3, 2017
    #1
  2. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    The quick and dirty way:

    Download the driver you want from nvidia.com

    Extract the exe with 7-zip to the folder of your choice.

    Go to the Display.Driver folder.

    Find and open nvdmi.inf in notepad.

    Search and replace 05AB with 02A2.

    Save the file and install your driver from setup.exe in the root of the folder. If you aren't on Win 7 you will need to disable driver signature enforcement. A quick google will tell you how to do that.

    The root problem is that nvidia does not support cards that were not available in the M15x (and just about any other laptops for that matter). What this does is add the M15x model (02A2) back into the driver so the hardware check is valid. Whatever 05AB was will not work anymore because we replaced it with 02AB. I like the quick and dirty method because it is quick. The dirty part is it messes up the driver for whatever laptop model was 05AB, but I don't care if I am only doing this for my laptop and don't plan to put the modified inf file on the web, which I don't.

    About nvdmi.inf. This is the one for Dell computers. Other .inf files in this folder are for other manufacturer's computers. If you are unsure do a search in the .inf for 1028, which is the code for Dell.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2017
    deadsmiley, Jun 4, 2017
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  3. Paul Becker

    Paul Becker Newbie

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    Worked like a charm, my dude! Thanks for your help, this should kep me goin' now! Thank you VERY much for your help, man, and you have a wonderful day!
     
    Paul Becker, Jun 5, 2017
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  4. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Glad it worked out! :)
     
    deadsmiley, Jun 6, 2017
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  5. Specv89

    Specv89 Notebook Guru

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    How's the 980m working out for you?
     
    Specv89, Jun 18, 2017
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  6. gotmilk70

    gotmilk70 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for this tidbit! It has helped me get my Clevo GTX 970M working too. Obviously put in the Svl7's modified vBios and it works like a charm!
     
    gotmilk70, Jun 19, 2017
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